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Fitger's Bockfest gets Underway

As a sure sign of spring, Fitger's 20th annual Bockfest kicked off on Thursday night.

Each night until Saturday in the Fitger's Courtyard, brewers will be on hand with metal pokers, heating them in a campfire, and sticking them into Lake Superior Brewing Company's Split Rock Bock.

Why?

"It's like eating a toasted marshmellow, some people prefer it," said Dale Kleinschmidt, a part-owner of the Lake Superior Brewing Company and beer afficianado. "Some people will drink a lot of their beer without it and then have a flavor change by having it poked."

The heat carmelizes all the sugars left behind from the fermentation process.

If carmelized beer isn't your thing, Saturday has a whole host of other activities.

The events start at 2 p.m. With a march along the Lakewalk, followed by a dip in Lake Superior at 3, and drinking competitions lasting until 8 p.m.